SBOE Welcomes DC Auditor to Working Session

Friday, April 27, 2018

Proposed Credit Recovery Regulations Also on Agenda

Washington, DC - On Wednesday, May 2, 2018, the SBOE will hold its monthly working session at 5 pm in Room 1114 at 441 4th Street NW. The SBOE will be joined by the DC Auditor, Kathy Patterson, who will be updating the Board on work her office is doing related to graduation requirements and practices. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education will also provide the Board with information on the progress of statewide regulations on credit recovery programs.

In January, the Board approved a resolution on the graduation rate discrepancies reported by WAMU and other media that requested that the DC Auditor begin an independent review of high school graduation criteria and standards as well as their execution. Auditor Patterson has requested to meet with the Board to inform on her progress as well as participate in dialogue with the Board on future activities of her office.

OSSE will continue its work with the Board on the subject of statewide credit recovery regulations. In order to provide a consistent framework that provides individual schools with the flexibility to meet the needs of their students while also ensuring that best practices are followed, OSSE will be drafting regulations on credit recovery. These regulations will be issued for public comment in the coming months.

Laura Wilson Phelan, Ward 1 and Markus Batchelor, Ward 8 will provide an update to the Board on the conclusion of the work of the High School Graduation Requirements Task Force. The task force held its final meeting on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Task force members came to consensus on principles for three recommendations. The Board is expected to take up their final report at their May 16 Public Meeting.

During this working session, the Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education will provide a quarterly report on the progress made helping District families. The Ombudsman and her team are responsible for helping students and parents resolve problems as they engage with the District of Columbia Public Schools and public charter schools. The Office offers conflict resolution services to parents, families, and students and is committed to resolving school related complaints, disputes and problems quickly and efficiently in all areas that affect student learning.

Members of the public are welcome to attend and observe this working session. However, individuals and representatives of organizations may not speak or participate during the working session. Individuals and representatives of organizations may submit written testimony for consideration by the SBOE. Written testimony may also be submitted by email at [email protected].

The draft agenda for the working session is below. Please note that the agenda may be altered, modified or updated without notice.